Besu VC gets a second term

Ajoy Kumar Ray was on Thursday appointed vice-chancellor of Bengal Engineering and Science University (Besu) for the second consecutive term.

Governor M.K. Narayanan, also the chancellor of Besu, approved the appointment on Thursday, government sources said.

Ray will remain at the helm of the university for a full four-year term. He had taken over as Besu vice-chancellor in 2009. After his term ended in February, he was given a six-month extension, which was to expire on Saturday.

“My priority is perpetuating excellence in engineering education and research,” Ray said, adding that his aim was to upgrade Besu to an IIEST (Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology). He has initiated a revision of the master’s curriculum and wants to improve research facilities.

The government had set up a three-member-search committee comprising M. Anandakrishnan, chairman of IIT Kanpur, Srikumar Banerjee, former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India, and Sugata Marjit, the chairman of the West Bengal Council of Higher Education, to select a VC. Anandakrishnan was the chancellor’s nominee, Banerjee the Besu court nominee and Marjit the government nominee.

The panel drew up a short list of three names, including Ray’s, three weeks ago. The government forwarded the list of names to the governor.

“A notification announcing Ray’s appointment will be issued in a day or two,” a government source said.